Weekend plan: Fun holiday activities highlight calendar

In the new family mystery/comedy ìMurray the Elf and the Case of the Terrifying Tinselî at Act II Playhouse, Mrs. Claus has sent for Murray because the North Pole elves are frightened by reports of a tinsel monster on the loose. Submitted Photo.

• On Sunday at 6 p.m., the Bethany Choir of Bethany Bible Fellowship Church, 75 W. Broad St., Hatfield, will give a Candlelight Concert, featuring Joseph M. Martin’s cantata “Season of Wonders,” celebrating the miracles of Christmas. There will be a time of fellowship and refreshments.

Keeping it light

In the new family mystery/comedy “Murray the Elf and the Case of the Terrifying Tinsel” at Act II Playhouse, Mrs. Claus has sent for Murray because the North Pole elves are frightened by reports of a tinsel monster on the loose. Show times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 27, 11 a.m. Dec. 28-29. The theater is at 56 E. Butler Ave., Ambler. Tickets are $12, $10 for children, $8 for children. Call (215) 654-0200 or visit www.act2.org.

Library Christmas

• w Indian Valley Public Library, 100 E. Church Ave., Telford, offers a Christmas Storyhour at 11 a.m. Saturday, with music, dancing, stories and “a special visitor from the North Pole.” Parents are elcome to bring their cameras. No registration required.

• Bing Crosby’s iconic performance of “White Christmas” is featured in a free screening of the 1942 film “Holiday Inn” at 6 p.m. Friday at the Lansdale Public Library, 301 Vine St., Lansdale.

• A live Nativity is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Lansdale United Methodist Church, 300 N. Broad St., Lansdale. Performances will be roughly every 20 minutes.

• From 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Heidelberg United Church of Christ, 1101 Cowpath Road, Hatfield, will present its annual “Living Nativity” scene. The presentation will take place at the front of the church building with live animals. Parking is available in the rear of the church.

• Silverdale Brethren in Christ Church, 165 W. Main St., Silverdale, has a live Nativity Sunday that’s preceded by a parade down Main Street at 6 p.m. Visit www.silverdalechurch.com.

• Franconia Mennonite Church on Route 113 in Franconia will have a live Nativity 6 to 8 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

• Starting at 10 a.m. Saturday Harleysville Fire Company will escort Santa around Lower Salford throughout the day. The firefighters are collecting canned food for local food banks, and residents can leave donations by their mailboxes.

• Fire Department of Montgomery Township’s Santa Run is set for noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.

• Rescheduled from last weekend, Santa and his reindeer will arrive at 9 a.m. Saturday at The Store at Moyer Indoor/Outdoor, 538 Railroad Ave., Souderton, for a morning filled with milk and cookies and crunchy biscuits for your pets. Santa will be there till 1 p.m. for free photos. Bring the kids and pets for a family photo.

Traditional meal

Reservations are due Dec. 23 for the free Christmas Day Dinner at Zion Mennonite Church, Front Street and Cherry Lane, Souderton. Communion will be offered at 11 a.m. Appetizers are served at 11:30, with dinner at noon Dec. 25. Call (215) 723-3592 for reservations, takeout meals, if you need transportation, or to volunteer.

• Santa will be in town to greet visitors through Saturday at the Santa House at West Main and Madison streets, Lansdale. Stop by from 6:30 to 7:30 on Thursday, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, or 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. For questions contact the Lansdale parks and recreation office at (215) 361-8352.

• The Lansdale Business Association’s third annual Holiday Tree Display is open from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 810 W. Main St., Lansdale.

Oh, deer

Norristown Farm Park offers a “Reindeer Guide for Kids” program, for ages 3 and up, from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Sunday. Learn the difference between reindeer, caribou, elk and our local white-tailed deer. Hear an original story about a kind old man and a misguided reindeer. Play reindeer games inside and outside and make a reindeer craft. Pre-registration is required and is $5 per child. Meet at the park office at West Germantown Pike at North Wales Road and Barley Sheaf Drive, East Norriton. Call (610) 270-0215.

Washington Crossing Historic Park’s 61st annual reenactment of George Washington’s 1776 Christmas Day crossing of the Delaware River is held 1 to 3 p.m. Dec. 25. Admission is free. About 200 reenactors in Continental military dress will be there to listen to an inspiring speech by Washington, then row across the river in replica Durham boats. The park is at 1112 River Road, Upper Makefield. Call (215) 493-4076.

Shopping break

Through Sunday, visit the Nintendo Holiday Mall Experience in the JC Penney Court of the King of Prussia Mall, 160 N. Gulph Road, Upper Merion. Play the newest games and take the Wii U Console, Nintendo 2DS and Nintendo 3DS Family for a test drive. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The North Penn Cultural Cinema Series presents “A Dancer’s Dream: Two Works by Stravinsky” at 7 p.m. Friday in the North Penn High School Auditorium, 1340 S. Valley Forge Road, Towamencin. Tickets are $5, $3 for students. For more information, go to www.northpenncinema.org or call (215) 853-1037.

Fill in the blank

The National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, presents “Being _____ at Christmas,” a family event held every Dec. 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Entertainment and activities include Baby Loves Disco, The Clay Studio, The Great Holtzie and story times. Tickets are $12, $5 for children 12 and under. Call (215) 823-3811 or check www.nmajh.org.

Open Christmas Day

“A Longwood Christmas,” featuring evergreens, greenhouse flowers, live holiday music, hundreds of thousands of lights and thousands of poinsettias, continues daily through Jan. 12 at Longwood Gardens, Routes 1 and 52, Kennett Township. Admission is by timed ticket. For tickets and activities for the day you plan to visit, call (610) 388-1000 or visit www.longwoodgardens.org.